To find a list of products that are prohibited (Haram) for Muslim mothers go
to:
http://www.muslimconsumergroup.com/mcg/food.html

The problem may be that the enzymes or culture media from the caseinates, the
lactose or whey could be made from pork.  The beta carotene can be made from
pig gelatin.  There are vegetable sources or synthetic based ingredients
(Halal or kosher certified).  But reading the list of ingredients on the can
of formula isn't going to necessarily tell you the origins of some of the
ingredients.

This will actually become a greater and greater problem as infant formula
companies use pharming to produce human  milk proteins--because they do use
porcines (pigs) to produce lactoferrin as well as cows, rabbits, mice, goats,
etc.  And remember in some countries infant formula is already being spiked
with lactoferrin--Japan, some Euopean and Asian countries.  Those who have
religious beliefs that effect their choices in diets and those who have
allergies will have less and less ability to know what the heck their infant
is consuming.  Which is another excellent reason to exclusively breastfeed
infants.

I think Muslim women who follow strict religious dietary laws may really need
to rethink the use of any infant formula.  And whether there is any infant
formula on the market that is without a variety of species genes mixed into
it is questionable in my mind.  Of course, I think all women who plan to have
babies need to rethink the use of any infant formula because I would
certainly label it experimental and infants the guinea pigs.  Valerie W.
McClain, IBCLC

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